Key holder frame



May 18, 1954 H. s. VAN BUREN, JR

KEY HOLDER FRAME Filed Dec. 30. 1949 l ida'f." f1.9. Elfi!! lNvENToR: HARoLD S; VAN BuREN JR. BY MM; d? 3h14 ATTORNEY.

Patented May 18, 1954 KEY HOLDER FRAME Harold S. Van Buren, Jr., Cambridge, Mass., as-

signor to United-Carr Fastener Corporation, Cambridge, Mass., a corporation of Massachu setts `Application December 30, 1949, Serial No. 135,921

vof a neck portion.

The object of the invention is to provide a key `frame which is adapted to receive a plurality of key hooks thereon in such a manner as to al low the hooks to be easily engaged with and .disengaged from the frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide a key frame having a series of spaced arms `forming slots to receive hooks and apertures to `allow the heads of the hooks to pass therethrough,

in which spring members are provided to restrict the apertures.

Another object o1. the invention is to provide a key frame formed of a single piece of sheet metal in which apertures provided to allow the head of a key hook to pass into a cavity formed by spaced arms are restricted by spring members which are adapted for iiexing to enlarge the aperture when the head of a key hook is pressed thereagainst.

Other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious, and will, in part, appear hereinafter. For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective View of a key frame embodying the features` of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the key frame of Fig. l with key hooks in various positions during the engaging operation;

Fig. 3 is a view in section taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a View in section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modied form of key frame embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a view in section taken on line 'I-l `of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a view in section taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

Referring to the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 5 there is illustrated a key frame I0, which is adapted for attachment to a supporting member I2 such as a key case or the like, to receive and engage key hooks I4. The hooks I4 for use with the device are well known in the art. and

comprise generally a key-retaining loop I6 and a pair of legs I8 which are held together by the spring action of the loop. To provide means for engagement with a key frame, the legs I8 are shaped to provide an enlarged head 2i) disposed on a neck portion 22.

The frame Ill comprises a base 24, which may be provided with openings 26 to receive rivets 28 for attaching the frame to the supporting member, a series of arms 30 disposed on the base in spaced relation to form a series of slots 32, and a series of cantilever spring members 34 which are preferably formed of the metal of the base and are connected thereto below the slots between adjacent arms.

The arms 30 comprise a hook support portion 3E which extends outwardly from the upper edge or" the base, and a hook-retaining portion 38 which extends upwardly in spaced relation to the plane of the base and then inwardly,l forming a cavity 4I) behind the arms to receive the head 20 of the key hook, as will be described hereinafter. To provide means for allowing the head of the key hook to enter the cavity, an aperture 42 is provided between adjacent arms by indentions 44 in adjacent edges of the support portions 35.

Each spring member 34 has a fixed end 45 which is connected to the base beneath a corresponding aperture 42, and a free end portion 45 which is spaced outwardly from the base and extends upwardly through the aperture 42, and is capable of flexing toward and away from the base for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The relative dimensions of the head and neck of the hook and the slot and aperture of the frame are such that if the spring were not present, the head of the hook would pass freely through the aperture into the cavity, and would be retained behind the adjacent edges of the adjacent arms, with the neck disposed in the slot and freely movable therein. However, the free end 46 of the spring is spaced outwardly from the base so that it normally restricts the size of the aperture 42, so that the head of the key hook will not pass therethrough except as here- I inafter described.

The method of assembly of a key hook on the frame is best illustrated by reference to Figs. 2 through 5. The head 20 of the key hook is placed against the free end 46 of the spring just outside the aperture 42, and forced downwardly so that the free end 4B flexes toward the plane of the base, thereby enlarging the aperture 42. The head 20 may now be passed through the aperture (see Fig. 5) into the cavity 40, and. the free end 45 springs upwardly to again restrict the opening and retain the head inthe cavity with the neck 22 disposed in the slot 32 (see Fig. 4). The removal of. the key hook from the frame is accomplished in a similar manner, by forcing the free end of the spring downwardly by pressing the head of the hook against the portion of the free end inside the cavity, and forcing the head out of the cavity through the enlarged aperture. Y

In the preferred form of the device, the upper side of the free end i5 of the spring is concave to form a channel 48 to assist in guiding the head of the key hook along the spring through the opening.

Referring now to Figs. 6` to 8, there is illustrated aV modified form of key frame embodying the features of the invention. In this embodiment, a key holder frame 50 has a base `52, a

' series of arms 54 disposed on the base in spaced relation to form key hook receiving slots 56,. and a series of spring members 58 associated with the slots. The arms 54 extend outwardly from the upper edge of the base and then downwardly in spaced relation thereto to form a cavity (i to receive the head of a key hook, and terminate in an inwardly extending hook support portion '62 which have ends 64 that overhang the base.

Each spring member 58 has a fixed endV d which is connected to the base beneath a corresponding Vslot and a exible free end S8 which is spaced outwardly from the base and extends upwardly to pass under the portion ci the slot 56 formed by adjacent hook support por- -tions 62. The ends Eli of the adjacent pair of arms and the free end 68 of the spring form anV therewith, but substantially eliminate the possibility of a hook becoming accidentally disengaged during use. Either modification of the invention may be readily produced on an automatic machine from a single piece oi sheet metal, which eliminates the necessity of expensive assembly operations and reduces the cost of the completed key holder.

Since certain' other obvious modincations may j be made in the illustrated embodiments, it is intended that allvv matter contained herein be interpreted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

l. A one-piece key holder frame to receive key hooks of the type having an enlarged head disposed on the end of a neck, said frame being formed from ay single piece of sheet material and comprising: a base portion adapted to be .a key hook to pass therethrough so that the head may be disposed in the cavity to be retained therein by said adjacent arms and so that the neck of the key hook may be disposed in the slot between said adjacent arms; and a spring portion associated with each opening, each spring portion extending through and normally restricting its associated opening and being capable of flexing toward the base to enlarge the opening when the head of a key hook is pressed thereagainst to permit the head to pass through the opening into and out from the cavity. a

2. A key holder irame to receive key hooks of the type having an enlarged head disposedon the end of a neck, said ira-me comprising a base adapted to be secured to a supporting member; a series `oi armsdisposed on the base in spaced relation to each other to form key hook receiving slots4 therebetween, said arms having portions spaced outwardly from the plane ci the base forming a key hook head receiving cavity, said portions including key hook head support portions extending substantially normal to the base, adjacentrkey hook head support portions of adjacent arins having edges forming an aperture connecting with the slot between the arms to permit the head or" a key hook to pass therethrough into the cavity so that the neck is disposed in the slot; and a cantilever spring member associated with each aperture disposed on the base, each spring member extending through its associated aperture and having a iree end portion normally restricting the aperture and being capable of ilexing to enlarge the aperture when the head of a key hook is pressed thereagainst to permit the head to pass therethrough.

3. A key holder frame as set forth in claim 2 in which each spring member is attached to the base below the corresponding aperture and has a free end portion extending upwardly in spaced relation to the base through the aperture, said 'free end portion normally restricting the aperture and being capable of iiexing toward the plane of the base to enlarge the aperture when the head of a key hook is pressed thereagainst to permit the head to pass through the aperture.

Reierences Cited in the le oi this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,038,070 Welch Apr. 2-1, 1936 2,114,172 Boden Apr. 12, 1938 2,201,833 Koelling May 21, 1940 2,201,850 Dawson, Jr May 2l, 1940 2,348,947 Zarowin May 16, 1944 2,401,753 Geller June 11, 1946 2,582,033 Harvey Jan. 8, 1952 2,606,438 Legat et al Aug. 12, 1952 

